Vietnam received two submarines on Thursday and Prime Minister Nguyen
Tan Dung said that it marked new development of Vietnamese navy and
army. Dung made the remarks at a national flag-raising ceremony to the
two Russia-made Kilo class submarines held in central Cam Ranh port
on Thursday.

Vietnamese soldiers attend a flag-raising ceremony
held for the first two submarines at Cam Ranh base, in the central province
of Khanh Hoa, Vietnam, April 3, 2014. The HQ 182 Hanoi and HQ 183 Ho
Chi Minh City submarines are two of the six Kilo-class submarines Vietnam
purchased from Russia under a contract signed in 2009. (Xinhua/VNA)

The ceremony draws participation of various Vietnamese senior officials,
Russian ambassador to Vietnam as well as attention of local people,
state-run news agency VNA reported.

The prime minister directly awarded the national flags to two captains
of HQ-182 Hanoi and HQ-183 Ho Chi Minh City submarines, saying that
in the coming time, four more modern submarines will be included in
Vietnam's navy namely Hai Phong, Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, and Ba Ria Vung
Tau.

According to Rosoboronexport, Project 636 proved highly effective while
operated by naval forces of several countries.

Unparalleled in her technical and operational specifications,
the ship is designed to conduct effective anti-sub warfare along with
the capability to engage surface ships and coastal targets of potential
adversary striking operations both independently or as part of a larger
task force. Increased output of the main propulsion plant allowed to
enhance significantly her submerged speed alongside with endurance range
up to 7500 miles. Furthermore, she is one of the world’s quietest
diesel-electric submarines providing guaranteed early enemy detection
and long-range attack as well as evasive maneuverability and concealment.